CARIBOU, Maine – Meteorologists across the state will be watching rivers and streams this weekend, as significant rainfall on Sunday could lead to coastal flooding.

The National Weather Service in Caribou has issued a coastal flood watch from Sunday morning through Sunday afternoon. A high tide of 12.4 feet is forecast for 11 a.m. Sunday at Bar Harbor and 21.2 feet at 10:44 a.m. at Eastport. A possible storm surge up to a foot could push the tide to flood stage Sunday, and strong winds of 50 to 55 mph could be scouring the coast.

Officials with the NWS said Friday that the weather could lead to minor flooding and splash-over.

Mal Walker, a meteorologist with the NWS in Caribou, said ice is out in most of the waterways in the region, even back into the northwest part of the state.

“Rivers are swollen from snowmelt,” he said. “The major concern that we have now is minor flooding that might result from the rain we are expecting on Sunday.”

Walker said it is expected to rain for the better part of the day Sunday. Forecasters will be watching the Piscataquis River and other waterways north of Dover-Foxcroft. A flood watch is in effect for central and southern Piscataquis County, including Greenville, Monson and Dover-Foxcroft.

“There is still a decent amount of snow in the mountains toward Greenville,” he noted. “We will be watching it carefully.”

Forecasters also will be watching the Kenduskeag Plaza area in Bangor, according to Walker.

Lesser amounts of rain are supposed to fall in Aroostook County. Walker said there have been some minor ice jams in waterways in the St. John Valley, but no reports of flooding.

The National Weather Service in Gray has also issued a coastal hazard message, warning of possible coastal flooding during high tide Saturday evening.

Forecasters warned that strong offshore winds will develop Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning. Seas will quickly build offshore and will lead to a storm surge of up to a foot. The predicted tide for Portland is 11.1 feet at 10:26 p.m.

Another significant high tide will occur Sunday morning. Beach erosion and splash-over are expected.